OUT OF RAGE FESTIVAL GUIDE 2026

Big names, bigger riffs and battlefield brawls - we're going to claim that summer 2026 has been exceptionally fantastic for live music. Coming to a field near you is a dazzling display of rock, metal, punk, hardcore and alternative music that is ready and waiting to knock your socks off. The best thing about this guide is that it's all on your doorstep, no need to book an expensive holiday abroad, or get stressed about finding your passport. We've got it all here, in Argos catalogue format, for you to browse at your own pleasure. Where will you end up this year?

Words: Alice Needham, Amber Brooks, Amy Smyth, Atoosa Salamat, Ben Blissett, Chloe Sodeau, Danielle Henderson, David Waites, Ellen Lovell, Erin Strom, Katerina Stepanikova, Kiarash Golshani, Kirsty Eighteen, Klaudia Skalska, Laura Davies, Lauren Wenham, Lou Viner-Flood, Oz Davies, Spencer Cunningham, Teala Linas and Zuzanna Pazola

REALITY UNFOLDS FESTIVAL

As always, we love and cherish Reality Unfolds Festival that takes place in early January. The future of the underground is curated and cultured at the New Cross Inn. We've already made the trip out to cover the brutality of that pit in all its glory this year, but the Real Life team put on fantastic gigs all year around. You can expect a defiant and eclectic roster of artists, both homegrown and international, in one of the best atmospheres locally. We're promoting 2027 early.

Amber Brooks

TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL

Dates: April 3rd - April 4th

Takedown Festival truly kicks off festival season and the 2026 line up is a jam packed celebration of rock, alternative, and metal acts to entertain new and old music fans alike. Based on the south coast, it is a festival that has always thrived on its community feel and aims to showcase heavy music from the old school to the contemporary.

 Hitting off the Friday with a stacked schedule of the nostalgic INME, local boys SOUTH OF SALEM, and rock pedigree PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS playing a MOTORHEAD set in full. The fun doesn’t stop there when Saturday hits however with brilliant metal band GRAPHIC NATURE, electronic rock duo WARGASM, and the transatlantic pop punk AS IT IS. Taking to the stage for their first ever festival headline slot on Saturday to close the festival is the mysterious masked collective PRESIDENT. Having already made waves since jumping onto the scene last year, they are one of the most exciting new bands on the circuit. Whether you are a veteran or a new music fan, Takedown Festival is the best way to start your 2026 festival season!

Laura Davies

MANCHESTER PUNK FESTIVAL

Dates: April 3rd - April 5th

The heart of Manchester’s grassroots music scene lies within a single stretch of road, mingled with student digs and noodle bars. For one weekend in April, the Punks take charge of the Oxford Road Corridor, flaunting leather jackets and making themselves accustomed to hair-raising bands, in at least six of the city's beloved venues. 

Rebellion begins with OOR favourites THE MENSTRUAL CRAMPS, MERYL STREAK and BEX. Fresh off their tour with DIE SPITZ, our hometown kid AERIAL SALAD oozes with confidence as loudmouths CLOBBER leave no room for explanation. At MPF, the party doesn’t stop until the punks do, often heading into the small hours of the morning, awash with comedy, blistering hardcore from GRAIL GUARD and BUREAU DE CHANGE, and the cathartic trills of the almighty SLASH FICTION.

Amber Brooks

NOIZZEFEST

Date: April 25th

Noizzefest returns to Cardiff for its third and biggest edition yet! It's quickly becoming one of Wales’ fastest-growing alternative and heavy music festivals. Held across two venues, Fuel Rock Club and Clwb Ifor Bach, the festival continues its mission to celebrate emerging talent, inclusivity, and the intimate chaos that can only be experienced locally.

This year's headliner is CALVA LOUISE, who brings a blend of punk, alt-rock, and experimental electronica to Cardiff for an explosive set. They'll be joined by HAGGARD CAT and HELL HOTEL, along with a diverse support lineup that blends hardcore, gritty alt-rock, and melodic chaos from some of the most exciting emerging bands in the UK and Europe. With names like KNIVES, TAYNE, WORN OUT and a packed lineup featuring BICURIOUS, PEACH, ASIDHARA, OMOIA, and many more, Noizzefest continues to be a haven for discovery - a festival where you'll walk away with three new favourite bands, whether you planned to or not. Affordable, local, loud, and community-driven, Noizzefest is shaping up to be a standout grassroots festival in the UK's vibrant music calendar.

Klaudia Skalska

INCINERATION FESTIVAL

Date: May 2nd

London's premier extreme metal festival returns to Camden in 2026 with a titanic line-up of over 30 confirmed bands across 5 iconic local venues, from some of the biggest names in the genre, through to the most exciting emerging talent. The headline performance will be BLOOD FIRE DEATH, a supergroup tribute to BATHORY's Thomas ‘Quorthorn’ Forsberg, featuring members/ex-members of WATAIN, ENSLAVED, AURA NOIR, MAYHEM and EMPEROR. Other huge additions to the line-up include legendary Swedish death metal veterans GRAVE, HYPOCRISY, and VOMITORY, alongside local stalwarts GRAVE MIASMA. More death metal will come from FUMING MOUTH, VACUOUS, MUTAGENIC HOST, and INTERNAL BLEEDING. German prodigies DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT extend the black metal offering, as well as AFSKY and ONE OF NINE. The line-up is rounded out with sonic destruction from BELIEVE IN NOTHING and DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT and a hardcore/crossover fix from NEGATIVE FRAME and OVERPOWER and blackened punk locals FINAL DOSE.

Oz Davies

NORTHERN UNREST

Dates: May 2nd - May 3rd

Northern Unfest is returning for its fourth consecutive year, boasting an incredible lineup of hardcore heavy-hitters. This year we have NEVER ENDING GAME, DEMONSTRATION OF POWER, EVERYBODY GETS HURT, SCARAB, SPLITKNUCKLE and many more. The Glasgow

festival, based in Woodside Halls, is one of the premier places to find the best

hardcore talent from around the world. With a Friday pre-show still to be announced,

as well as an after-party to come, this is without a doubt an unmissable event!

Spencer Cunningham

DESERTFEST

Dates: May 15th - May 17th

One of London’s annual wonders and best events for smaller bands - Desertfest, is coming back from 15th to 17th May. The metal festival, which takes place across five iconic Camden venues - Roundhouse, The Electric Ballroom, The Underworld, The Black Heart and The Devonshire Arms, already promises a stacked up lineup, with CLUTCH, GREEN LUNG and HERMANO being the main headliners, and THE SWORD, PIGS X7, EARTHLESS, TRUCKFIGHTERS, CAUSA SUI, CAPRICORNS and many more luring the fans in with a mix of doom, stoner and psych metal.

As every year, the tickets offered are for the full weekend, as well as for individual days, and are valid in all five venues, offering the fans full flexibility to see the bands they fancy the most. Desertfest is the perfect opportunity to discover new music in the capital and enjoy three days full of moshpits, breakdowns and good music.

Kat Stepanikova

BEARDED THEORY

Dates: May 20th - May 24th

Historic festival on the River Trent! Bearded Theory in Catton Park, Derbyshire, might be for you if you enjoy scenic woodland walks, intimate cosy vibes, and damn good music. BT’s lineup for 2026 is nuts, with headliners PIXIES, GARBAGE, and SKUNK ANANSIE leading the charge. (Let’s hope Shirley Manson doesn’t mind it not raining.) The rest is nothing to sniff at either - Rage favourites like LAMBRINI GIRLS, KID KAPICHI, SPRINTS will be gracing the idyllic site, with buckets of attitude to get the foxes and voles two-stepping.

The site itself is really beautiful, and certainly no shabby place to spend a weekend. Legendary acts and young up-and-comers alike will play to the surrounding forests and greenery. Main Stage “The Pallet” will be your go-to for all the biggest acts, but you’re welcome to take a stroll to “The Woodland” for some chill vibes, or even visit “Big Ed”’s big head for some rave-y business.

This festival is celebrated for its family friendliness - you can even enrol your kids in “The Festival School” to enrich them with life lessons beyond the classroom. Maths, English, Slime Making, you name it. With an approximate 15k capacity, this is an intimate and community-focused fest. Bearded Theory knows that the best part of a festival is getting familiar with your neighbours, and sharing experiences that’ll last a lifetime.

Erin Strom

SLAM DUNK

Dates: May 23rd (South) - May 24th (North)

May Bank Holiday weekend sees the return of Slam Dunk Festival, this year marking the festival's 20th Anniversary, expecting over 50,000 fans across two fully outdoor sites in Hatfield and Leeds. Featuring anniversary sets from DEAF HAVANA (15th anniversary of Fools and Worthless Liars), TAKING BACK SUNDAY (20th anniversary of Louder Now) BOSTON MANOR (10th anniversary of be nothing) and TRASH BOAT (10th anniversary of Nothing I Write You), as well as GOOD CHARLOTTE’s European festival exclusive, Slam Dunk is bound to be the festival of the year. With bands spanning an incredible mixing pot of genres from pop-punk, emo, ska, metalcore, and alternative rock, there’s something for everyone.

Lou Viner Flood

DOWNLOAD

Dates: June 10th - June 14th

Donington Park's famous mammoth rock festival is back for another year of carnage. The three-day festival has a lineup packed with every genre the local metalhead could want, all the sounds from hard rock to death metal and more. This is the festival's 23rd year running and has become an annual event for all alternative fans across the country. When meeting someone in the scene, you're likely to be asked if you'll be attending the next one.

The headliners include a return from LINKIN PARK. Having last headlined the festival in 2014, they are coming back 12 years later to headline the festival for the 5th time, their first with their new lead vocalist, Emily Armstrong, after the tragic passing of Chester Bennington in 2017. LIMP BIZKIT will also be marking their first ever headline set at the iconic Download Festival, as well as GUNS N ROSES returning for their 3rd headline slot.

The June weekend is already set to be packed with the lineup not even completed yet, but it features huge names like ARCHITECTS, BAD OMENS, ICE NINE KILLS, BABY METAL, PENDULUM, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, and so many more!

Amy Smyth

ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

Dates: June 26th - June 28th

There’s something special about stepping off the ferry, feeling the sea air hit, and knowing four days of live music lie ahead. Sunshine, live music and thousands of like-minded music lovers, the Isle of Wight Festival isn’t just a weekend away, it’s a core memory. Taking place from 18th to 21st June 2026 in Newport on the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Wight Festival is once again set to be one of the highlights of the UK festival calendar. Held at Seaclose Park, the festival was first founded in 1968 before being revived in the early 2000s. Its legacy runs deep — the iconic 1970 edition welcomed legends including JIMI HENDRIX, THE WHO and THE DOORS, securing its place in British music history.

Fast forward to 2026, and the line-up proves the festival still knows how to make an impact. Headliners THE CURE, CALVIN HARRIS and LEWIS CAPALDI lead a bill that blends iconic names with some of today’s most exciting artists. Indie favourites TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB and THE KOOKS sit alongside pop superstar Perrie (of LITTLE MIX) and TEDDY SWIMS, with Rick Astley also set to take to the stage. Beyond the Main Stage, areas such as Cirque de la Quirk and Kashmir Café add to the festival’s character, creating a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere that welcomes both seasoned festival-goers and first-timers alike.

Teala Lynas

OUTBREAK (MANCHESTER)

Dates: June 26th - June 28th

Outbreak Fest, which has made its home in the BEC Arena for its Manchester edition, charges into its landmark 15th year in 2026; a milestone earned through years of unforgettable chaos and passionate community. Renowned for being the UK’s definitive worshipping grounds for hardcore, punk and alternative music, the festival has forged a solid reputation for delivering blistering lineups and an atmosphere few events can rival. What began as a 100-capacity DIY hardcore all-dayer in Sheffield has grown into an institution, and its rise has been anything but accidental. Its previous editions have welcomed industry heavyweights such as KNOCKED LOOSE, TURNSTILE and DENZEL CURRY, each setting new benchmarks for intensity and live energy.

The crowds, now legendary in their own right, draw relentless pits and endless opportunities to two-step. In 2026, that energy looks set to hit new heights. Expect walls of distortion, sweaty sing-a-longs and the kind of catharsis only Outbreak can deliver. This year's bill is leaning into nostalgia and celebration, with artists such as headliner ALEXISONFIRE and acclaimed post-hardcore unit TOUCHÉ AMORÉ promising to perform their career-defining albums in full, offering a rare chance to revisit moments that helped shape their genres. Alongside other legends such as BASEMENT, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and CONVERGE, all primed to tear open the stage this June, Manchester is set for another weekend of passion, volatility and unforgettable performances. Fifteen years in, Outbreak clearly isn’t slowing down. It’s louder, bigger and more formidable than ever before.

Chloe Sodeau

2000TREES

Dates: July 8th - July 10th

Since 2007, 2000Trees Festival has quietly built a reputation as one of the UK’s most beloved alternative gatherings. Tucked away at Upcote Farm in Withington, Gloucestershire, it feels a world apart from the sprawling behemoths of the ‘typical’ summer festival circuit. Everything is close together and easy to navigate, which makes it ideal for first-timers or anyone intimidated by the scale of the bigger festivals.

Musically, it casts a wide net without losing its identity. Punk rock, alt rock, indie, hardcore, electronic, and the in-between spaces all coexist happily on the same bill. The carefully curated lineup means the undercard is just as exciting as the headliners every single year - plenty of attendees leave the festival grounds with brand new favourite bands discovered by accident. What really sets 2000Trees apart, though, is its atmosphere. It’s often called the friendliest festival in the UK, and while that does sound cliché, it’s hard to argue otherwise. Many of the vendors are small, local businesses that care deeply about the scene, and the crowd feels like a genuine family, built around shared taste and mutual respect.

Zuzanna Pasola

RADAR FESTIVAL

Dates: July 31st to August 2nd

At RADAR Festival, it’s not uncommon to share a pit with a spaceman. The heavy side of sci/fi makes itself known at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse. Celebrating the new and the progressive in rock and metal music, RADAR’s gravity-defying lineup lends itself to also championing progression in the live music sector. Recently, they became the first festival to donate £1 of every ticket purchased to grassroots venues.

This year, the festival opted for a dizzying deathcore Friday, boasting Aussie heavyweights THY ART IS MURDER, alongside homegrown heroes CHELSEA GRIN and GRAPHIC NATURE. On the Saturday, SKINDRED take the stage, with NORTHLANE, SEETHING AKIRA and UNPEOPLE making just as much of a statement on stage as Sunday’s ANIMALS AS LEADERS, VOYAGER, and EMPLOYED TO SERVE. Amongst it all, there is a celebration of instrumentation in their infamous music and gaming market, as well as two stages of fantastic live music, devoid of any set clashes.

Amber Brooks

REBELLION FESTIVAL

Dates: 6-9th of August

Founded in 1996, the “largest independent punk festival in the UK” is a family-oriented festival that celebrates Punk in all its forms. Formerly known as Holidays in the Sun, then briefly as Wasted, Rebellion is held in August each year at the historic Winter Gardens at Blackpool. The stages now include an ‘introducing’ stage which promotes new acts, a literary and an acoustic stage; and there’s plenty of stuff to get involved with such as a magic show, Punk Bingo and an arts and crafts market selling music and merch.

With over 300 acts confirmed for 2026, you’re guaranteed to find someone you want to see. Punk legends from the 70s rub shoulders with current bands, and you can join the fun early with a series of run-up events. ADAM ANT, THE UNDERTONES, and ALTERED IMAGES will play on Tuesday 4th August. NEVILLE STAPLE, and DEATH OF GUITAR POP play on Weds 5th, with the main festival starting on Thursday 6th August.

Kirsty Eighteen

BLOODSTOCK

Dates: August 6th - August 9th

Bloodstock is as close to a metal institution in the UK as a festival can get. Few of its festival peers can offer the sheer metal smorgasbord that this one has provided for the last 25 years, and for its quarter-of-a-century celebration, they have pulled out all of the stops. Expect to see more regulars to add to the famously friendly atmosphere, with inevitable appearances by potato-slinger Spudman and the Viking reenactors in the works. If you’re a mosher, with the addition of a Thursday main-stage headliner, you’d best pray that you’ve got the agility or the stamina to handle 4 days of absolute madness.

For Thursday, SAXON make their grand return. Bloodstock staples, its only natural they come for the party. Joining them for the rest of the week are some heavy hitters: LAMB OF GOD, SEPULTURA (the band who played at the festival as part of their ‘final tour’… twice), and the mighty JUDAS PRIEST – who blew everyone away in 2021 with their three-hour-long set that made the two-week quarantine afterwards worth it. But there are some other surprises here, the re-vamped NEVERMORE will be making an appearance, as will CASTLE RAT, the doom-gens and dragons darlings that took social media by storm in 2025. This is just scratching the surface; many, many more wonderful surprises lie in store for the beloved festival, and as any yearly regular would likely tell you, it’s a guaranteed good time.

Kia Golshani

ARCTANGENT FESTIVAL

Dates: August 20th - August 22nd

Bringing you everything from Scandinavian folk to Instrumental doom, Bristol’s Arctangent yet again promises to house and champion the uncovered corners of experimental heavy music. If something akin to BJORK backed by METALLICA is your dream, you’ll find it here.

A heavier and more diverse selection of headliners than previous years, CULT OF LUNA and JULIE CHRISTMAS will land on the main stage to perform Mariner in full for the first time in 10 years. CHELSEA WOLFE finally takes her rightful place as headliner after COVID cancellations, and PRIMUS provides our dose of late-night, familiar heavy chaos.

Graduating from their soaring performance playing the ‘Bixler’ stage back in 2024, Manchester’s MARUJA are a guarantee to bring both rage and joy to the Arctangent crowd. OATHBREAKER return for a UK exclusive, part of their first run of shows since 2021. SVALBARD also take their final bow at the festival prior to disbanding later this year. Upcoming heavy hitters such as MEATDRIPPER, HANG LINTON, FORLORN and TERMINALS make their Arctangent debut this year, and many staples make their return with fresh material: PUPIL SLICER, PSYCHONAUT, and IGORRR. It’s shaping up to be one of Arctangent’s most exciting lineups yet, bringing together new blood and reinvigorated favourites. See you on Fernhill Farm!

Alice Needham

OUTBREAK (LONDON)

Date: August 23rd

For the second time in their 15-year run, Outbreak festival is venturing down south. Since 2011, the festival has been a champion of the counterculture, platforming artists in the hardcore space and beyond and blossoming to become one of the biggest hardcore festivals in the UK. In this partnership with All Points East, Outbreak is aiming to break through to the mainstream, whilst still catering to the underground.

This iteration of the festival will see an eclectic bill of artists, with genres bouncing between hardcore, punk, trap and techno – as long as you like to dance (and/or throw your body around in the pit), there will be a corner of the festival for you. Last year, the inaugural Outbreak London saw the return of hardcore giants TURNSTILE, who played their first UK show at Outbreak festival in 2013 and now boast two Grammy awards. This year, the festival is going even bigger, with legendary metal icons DEFTONES headlining the festival in support of their critically acclaimed album Private Music, in their only UK festival appearance of 2026.

Earlier sets from Australian punk darlings AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS and Scouse trap up-and-comer ESDEEKID, alongside Outbreak veterans SHOW ME THE BODY, DEAFHEAVEN and JPEGMAFIA, will keep the energy frantic from the second the gates open.

Ellen Lovell

ALL POINTS EAST - TWENTY ONE PILOTS HEADLINER

Date: August 28th

On their only UK stop of the year, TWENTY ONE PILOTS return to London for what could be the last show of the 10-year story the band have been building within their music. Last time they were here, we received the subtle reveal of the double album, so what happens at this show and what they have in store is anyone’s guess. With one of the most dedicated fanbases of any band in the world, this festival is sure to have an atmosphere that will be electric. Fans will be speculating and anticipating this very special show that they have prepared for us. It’s unknown how long the band are going away on hiatus after this, but they’re gonna make this show count.

Ben Blissett

READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL

Date: 27th - 30th of August

For nearly three decades, Leeds and Reading Festivals have sat at the heart of the UK’s festival culture. Now, 27 years on, it’s evolving into one of the country’s most diverse and forward-thinking lineups, shifting its sound year after year while keeping its signature intensity intact. Held at Bramham Park in Leeds and Richfield Avenue in Reading, the twin festival remains a magnet for a younger generation drawn to its high-octane atmosphere and unapologetically rowdy crowds. This is not a laid-back weekend in a field — it’s loud, relentless, and built on pure energy.

This year’s headliners reflect that evolution, spanning genres and generations. DAVE brings sharp-edged lyricism, CHARLI XCX delivers euphoric pop chaos, while FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE offer iconic, arena-sized moments. Add to that the raw post-punk force of FONTAINES D.C., and it’s clear the festival is targeting every corner of the modern music landscape. With more acts yet to be announced, Leeds and Reading Festival continues to prove why it remains a rite of passage — delivering standout performances, chaotic crowds, and some of the most uncompromising energy on the UK festival circuit.

David Waites

ALL POINTS EAST - TYLER THE CREATOR HEADLINER

Date: August 30th

We can almost say that TYLER THE CREATOR's Camp Flog Gnaw’s making its way over to London, as Tyler’s bill for All Points East is primarily made up of his previous collaborators, including CLIPSE, VINCE STAPLES, DANNY BROWN and LOVE SPELLS. Riding off the back of two studio albums released in one year, and performances that no one can ever forget, his ambitious two-day headliner slot for his All Points East debut will be exciting to see.

This stacked set includes TURNSTILE, the US hardcore rock band who recently took home two Grammys, and are sure to put on a sensational performance for those who like the more alternative side of Tyler's music. FAYE WEBSTER is also not one to miss, a good friend of TYLER THE CREATOR and someone with a uniquely soothing voice and mesmerising instrumentals.

Atoosa Salamat

MANGATA

Date: September 5th

Nottingham’s festival offering comes from Mangata Promotions. Not too far away from the Asphodellic fields of Donington and Catton Park, the festival celebrates local businesses and talent from the Nottingham underground, whilst also implementing key values of sustainability and affordability. 

Across five venues, this year the festival celebrates French bodyslammers TEN56, alongside upstarts THE HARA and the gimmick-infused RAISED BY OWLS. There is also gold further down the lineup, with alternative superstars DACARA and South Coast legends RED METHOD. 

Amber Brooks

BURN IT DOWN

Dates: September 3rd - September 5th

In the most unlikely of spaces, there is a fantastic alternative scene. Torquay, being all the way in sunny Devon, is the kingmaker of festival lineups, with Burn It Down taking place at the beginning of September. What is unique about this festival is that, as No Play and Reality Unfolds also seems to do, it curates a vibrant and off-the-wall lineup that furthers the future of the British music scene.

With the first wave of acts already announced for the three-day festival, headlining duties are handed to the almighty DRUG CHURCH, for a hardcore-infused bill also featuring faves DEATH GOALS, GROVE STREET and THE CHISEL. Amongst it a fantastic selection of punk and metalcore, with SPLIT DOGS, SPCAED and THE MEFFS. If that is not intense enough to get the blood pumping, then the almighty DEAD WAX, LOVE RARELY, and NEGATIVE FRAME make the most of the bill. Devon is heaven with the fantastic Burn it Down

Amber Brooks

NO PLAY FESTIVAL

Dates: 4th-5th of September

No play closes out the summer for Liverpool punks, taking over the city centre Saturday 5th September, hosting emerging acts across hardcore, metal, punk and alternative rock throughout a growing number of venues . No Play focuses on affordable and grassroots live music; the guillotine sessions give smaller acts the stage to grow their presence in the iconic Jacaranda on the last Tuesday of every month for just £3 and on a larger scale, No Play draws the likes of LOATHE and STATIC DRESS into Liverpool and Sheffield. We're waiting with baited breath for the first wave of artists to be announced - the last couple years headliners have included GUILT TRIP, SPLIT CHAIN and SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY, with barrierless sets to see out the summer with a scream.

Julia Brunton

CORE FEST

This November we have Core Festival, Glasgow’s own ‘celebration of noise’. This will be the fourth year running for the festival and is set to be the best yet. Over the course of the weekend and across three venues in the city’s centre, alternative artists from all corners of the earth can be seen. Alongside the expected music there will be fringe shows, an independent merch market, artist exhibitions, and community showcases with more to be announced.

The venues this year include The Art School, Nice N Sleazy, and the Garnethill Multicultural Centre; all within a short distance of each other, so you don’t miss a thing from the lineup. PIG DESTROYER and EYEHATEGOD occupy the top spots on Sunday, with Incendiary taking the Saturday headliner slot. Saetia will be performing as a UK Exclusive on Friday, make sure you take up the opportunity to see them if you love old school screamo! The festival is well-suited for those who enjoy metal, sludge, hardcore, punk, and who want to soak up the culture of one of the UK’s most arty cities.

Danielle Henderson

BEYOND THE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Beyond The Music returns in October to the heart of Manchester, spreading itself across the Northern Quarter and beyond. It feels less like a traditional festival and more like the city itself has been turned into a living, breathing music venue, with no lineup announced yet, the excitement sits in the unknown. Previous years leaned into everything from indie and electronic through to alternative and pop, creating a space where discovery is the main event and entertainment is the prize.

What makes Beyond The Music stand out is the atmosphere. There is a genuine sense that you are seeing future headline acts long before they outgrow these rooms. You find yourself wandering between venues, catching the end of one set and stumbling into another that completely changes your night. It lives on positive energy, creative freedom, and the connection between artist and audience. Things which are what keep festivals and lifelong fandoms alive.

The real selling point this year is trust. Trust in the curation, trust in Manchester’s reputation, and trust that you will leave with new favourite bands you did not expect. It is a festival built on moments, not names. It has a very homegrown feel to it, one which leaves you with a feeling of wow and nostalgia before it’s even become nostalgic.

Lauren Wenham

DAMNATION FESTIVAL

We're back at the BEC Arena after our stint at Manchester's Outbreak for Damnation Festival. A more abrasive and blackened lineup when compared to their hardcore cousins, but arguably just as intense. Loaded with eclectic listens, this festival champions the extreme. Headliners HEATH present industrial-infused proportions to the lineup, supported by the stunning WALLS OF JERICHO and the return of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM.

Whilst the entire bill has not been announced yet, joining them are the wonderfully introspective HOLY FAWN and sludge veterans EYEHATEGOD, with Belgian shoegaze standouts SLOW CRUSH becoming an MVP at Europe's biggest metal festival.

Amber Brooks

*All posters are accurate at the time of publication